• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.1297-1303
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• 2012

Aims: Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy often related to hepatitis viral infection. Smad4 is known to mediate the TGF-${\beta}$ pathway to suppress tumorigenesis. However, the function of Smad4 in HCC is still controversial. In this study we compared levels of Smad4 in HCC tissues with or without hepatitis virus infection and adjacent normal-appearing liver. Methods: Samples from HCC patients were analyzed for Smad4 protein and mRNA expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC), RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results: We found that tumor tissues expressed less Smad4 mRNA and protein than the adjacent tissues. Most HCC tumor tissues were negative for Smad4 in IHC staining, while the majority of adjacent tissues were positively stained. Interestingly, protein levels were higher in HCC tissues with viral hepatitis than those without virus infection. Suppression of expression appeared closely related to HCC, so that Smad4 appears to function as a tumor suppressor gene (TSG). Conclusion: Patients with hepatitis viral infection, at higher risk for HCC, exhibited increased Smad4 protein expression suggesting hepatitis virus may modulate Smad4 expression, which is functionally distinct from its putative role as a TSG. Smad4 expression may thus be an applicable marker for diagnosis and/or a target to develop therapeutic agents for HCC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.2865-2869
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• 2013

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can become chronic and if left untreated can progress to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Thailand is endemic for HBV and HCC is one of the top five cancers, causing deaths among Thai HBV-infected males. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the KIF1B gene locus, rs17401966, has been shown to be strongly associated with the development of HBV-related HCC. However, there are no Thai data on genotypic distribution and allele frequencies of rs17401966. Thai HBV patients seropositive for HBsAg (n=398) were therefore divided into two groups: a case group (chronic HBV with HCC; n=202) and a control group (HBV carriers without HCC; n=196). rs17401966 was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analyzed by direct nucleotide sequencing. The genotypic distribution of rs174019660 for homozygous major genotype (AA), heterozygous minor genotype (AG) and homozygous minor genotype (GG) in the case group was 49.5% (n=100), 40.1% (n=81) and 10.4% (n=21), respectively, and in controls was 49.5% (n=97), 42.3% (n=83) and 8.2% (n=16). Binary logistic regression showed that rs17401966 was not statistically associated with the risk of HCC development in Thai chronic HBV patients (p-value=0.998, OR=1.00 and 95% CI=0.68-1.48). In conclusion, the KIF1B gene SNP (rs174019660) investigated in this study showed no significant association with HBV-related HCC in Thai patients infected with HBV, indicating that there must be other mechanisms or pathways involved in the development of HCC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권8호
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• pp.3131-3135
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• 2015

Objective: To investigate whether the expression of serum soluble neural cell adhesion molecule (sNCAM) is associated with hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in hepatocelular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Materials and Methods: The Oncomine Cancer Microarray database was used to determine the clinical relevance of NCAM expression in different kinds of human cancers. Sera from 75 HCC cases enrolled in this study were assessed for expression of sNCAM by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Dependent on the Oncomine Cancer Microarray database analysis, NCAM was down regulated in 10 different kinds of cancer, like bladder cancer, brain and central nervous system cancer, while up-regulated in lung cancer, uterine corpus leiomyoma and sarcoma, compared to normal groups. Puzzlingly, NCAM expression demonstrated no significant difference between normal and HCC groups. However, we found by quantitative ELISA that the level of sNCAM in sera from HCC patients with HE ($347.4{\pm}151.9ng/ml$) was significantly more up-regulated than that in HCC patients without HE ($260.3{\pm}104.2ng/ml$), the p-value being 0.008. sNCAM may be an important risk factor of HE in HCC patients, the correlation coefficients was 0.278 (P<0.05) on rank correlation analysis. Conclusions: This study highlights that up-regulated level of serum sNCAM is associated with HE in HCC patients and suggests that the high expression can be used as an indicator.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.559-562
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• 2012

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a significant marker for clinical diagnosis and prognosis evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. However, some proportion of liver cancer patients are AFP-negative (AFP ${\leq}$20ng/ml). In order to study the differences between clinicopathological factors and prognosis of alpha-fetoprotein negative and positive patients, a total of 114 cases (41 AFP-negative and 73 AFP-positive) were selected for our research. By systematically statistical analysis, the results demonstrated that compared with AFP-negative patients, AFP-positive examples were more likely to feature cirrhosis nodules, non-complete neoplasm capsules, and a poor Edmondson-steiner grade. Furthermore, AFP-negative patients demonstrated a favorable long-term prognosis. By univariate analysis and multivariate analysis with Cox's proportional hazards model, multiple tumors were found to be independent risk factors for worse survival of AFP negative patients; however, less tumor-free margins, multiple tumors and Edmondson-steiner grades III/IV, proved to be independent risk factors leading to a poor prognosis of AFP positive cases. Finally, we can infer that high levels of AFP signify a highly malignant tumor and unfavorable prognosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.993-1001
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• 2016

Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients are at increased risk of many forms of malignancies, especially of the pancreas, colon and hepatocellular cancer. Unfortunately, little is known of the possible interaction between antidiabetic drugs and anticancer agents. The present study investigates the influence of metformin (MET) and sitagliptin (SITA) on the in vitro anticancer activity of the microtubule depolymerization inhibitor agent epothilone A (EpoA). Hepatocellular liver carcinoma cell line (HepG2) viability and apoptosis were determined by the MTT test and by double staining with PO-PRO-1 and 7-aminoactinomycin D, respectively, after treatment with EpoA, metformin or sitagliptin. The levels of nuclear factor NF-${\kappa}B$ and p53 were evaluated in the presence and absence of inhibitors. While EpoA and MET inhibited HepG2 cell proliferation, SITA did not. EpoA and SITA induced higher p53 levels than MET. All tested drugs increased the level of NF-${\kappa}B$. Only MET enhanced the proapoptotic effect of EpoA. The EpoA+MET combination evoked the highest cytotoxic effect on HepG2 cells and led to apoptosis independent of p53, decreasing the level of NF-${\kappa}B$. These findings support the link between NF-${\kappa}B$ and p53 in the modulation of apoptotic effects in HepG2 cells treated by EpoA. Our studies indicate that the combination of EpoA and MET applied in subtoxic doses has a stronger cytotoxic effect on liver cancer cells than each of the compounds alone. The therapeutic advantages of the combination of EpoA with MET may be valuable in the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) and liver cancer.

• Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.385-396
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• 2018

Competing risks are commonly encountered in biomedical research. Regression models for competing risks data can be developed based on data routinely collected in hospitals or general practices. However, these data sets usually contain the covariate missing values. To overcome this problem, multiple imputation is often used to fit regression models under a MAR assumption. Here, we introduce a multivariate imputation in a chained equations algorithm to deal with competing risks survival data. Using pseudo-observations, we make use of the available outcome information by accommodating the competing risk structure. Lastly, we illustrate the practical advantages of our approach using simulations and two data examples from a coronary artery disease data and hepatocellular carcinoma data.

• 한국보건간호학회지
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.234-243
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the socioeconomic status as a risk factor for hepatitis C virus infection among community-dwelling adults in Korea. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study including 2,617 adults. Data from hepatocellular carcinoma epidemiological investigation and information regarding three markers of socioeconomic status, education, employment, household income, were obtained. Multiple logistic regression was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for hepatitis C virus infection for socioeconomic status markers, adjusting for the other soioeconomic status marker, behavioral and hepatitis-related factors. Results: Of the 2,617 study subjects, 104 subjects infected with hepatitis C virus and prevalence was 4%. When compared to subjects with a lowest education, ORs was 0.16 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.04-0.69) for highest education group. After adjusting behavioral and hepatitis-related factors, ORs was 0.20 (0.05-0.87) for highest education compared with lowest group. Conclusion: Low educational level was associated with an increased risk of hepatitis C virus infection.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.129-139
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• 2003

목 적: 당원병 제1형은 어린 소아연령에서 발현하는 가장 심한 형태의 당원병이다. 장기간 관찰시 일부 환자에서 간선종이 발생하고 드물게 간암이 합병되어 예후에 심각한 영향을 미칠 수 있다고 알려져 있지만, 아직까지 이에 대한 연구가 거의 이루어지지 못하였다. 본 연구에서는 한국의 당원병 제1형 환자들의 추적관찰을 통해 간선종과 간암 발생의 측면에서 당원병 제1형의 장기적인 예후를 살펴보고자 하였다. 방 법: 1982년 3월에서 2003년 2월까지 서울대병원 소아과에서 간 조직 검사 및 효소검사를 통해 당원병 제1형으로 진단된 43명의 환자(제1a형 40명, 제1b형 3명)를 대상으로 하였다. 복부 초음파, 전산화단층촬영 또는 자기공명영상을 시행하여 간선종의 발생여부를 관찰하였으며, 간의 종괴가 확인된 경우 가능하면 조직검사를 시행하여 간선종 및 간암을 확진하였다. 간선종 발생에 관여하는 위험요인을 알아보기 위하여 간선종이 발생한 환자를 연령에 대해 짝짓기를 시행하여 선종군과 비선종군에서 여러 임상 지표를 비교하였다. 결 과: 1) 전체 43명 중 16명(37.2%)에서 간선종이 발생하였는데, 간선종이 처음 발견된 나이는 평균 $14.2{\pm}4.1$세(범위: 7.9~25.7세)였다. 처음 발견시 다발성 선종인 경우는 14례(87.5%)였다. 2) 간선종이 발생하였던 선종군(n=16)과 비선종군(n=16)을 비교하였을 때, 신장질환이 선종군에서는 7명(43.8%)에서 동반되고, 비선종군에서는 1명(6.3%)에서 병발하여 두 군 간에 유의한 차이를 보였다(p=0.037; 교차비 11.667, 95% 신뢰구간=1.227~110.953). 저신장은 선종군 6명(37.5%)과 비선종군의 10명(62.5%)에서 관찰되어 두 군 간에 유의한 차이가 없었다(p=0.157). 당원병 제1형 환자의 대부분에서 생옥수수 전분 치료를 시행하였는데, 생옥수수 전분 치료를 시작한 연령은 선종군이 $9.1{\pm}5.2$세인 반면, 비선종군은 $3.0{\pm}1.8$세로서 통계적으로 유의하게 선종군의 치료 시작 연령이 늦었다(p=0.003). 문맥하공정맥 문합술 시행 당시의 연령 차이가 없는 상태에서(p=0.170), 선종군의 11명(68.8%)과 비선종군의 3명(18.8%)에서 단락수술을 시행 받아 두 군간에 유의한 차이를 보였다(p=0.004; 교차비 9.533, 95% 신뢰구간=1.847~49.204). 고콜레스테롤혈증, 저혈당, 고요산혈증 등의 여부는 두 군 간에 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다(p=0.833, p=0.273, p=0.550). 3) 25.7세에 간선종이 발견되었던 1명은 26.5세에 간암으로 진단되어 간동맥 항암 화학 색전술을 시행 받았다. 결 론: 간선종은 당원병 제1형 환자들을 장기간 추적관찰 하였을 때 비교적 흔하게 발생하는 합병증으로서, 일부에서 악성화 될 가능성이 있어 중요성이 매우 크다. 당원병 제1형 환자들의 장기적 예후를 위해서는 생옥수수 전분 치료의 조기 도입과 규칙적인 추적관찰을 통한 간선종의 조기 발견이 필요하다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.637-642
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• 2014

The pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) related to habitual betel quid (BQ) chewing is unclear. Risk of HCCis increased with adverse hepatic fibrosis. This study aimed to assess the impact of chronic viral hepatitis on adverse hepatic fibrosis in HCC related to BQ chewing. This hospital-based case-control study enrolled 200 pairs of age- and gender-matched patients with HCC and unrelated healthy controls. Serologic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein (AFP), and surrogate markers for significant hepatic fibrosis were measured. Information on substance-use habits was obtained with a questionnaire. By analysis of surrogate markers for hepatic fibrosis, the prevalence of significant hepatic fibrosis in patients chewing BQ was between 45.8% and 91.7%, whereas that for patients without BQ chewing was between 18.4% and 57.9%. The difference was significant (P <0.05 for each surrogate marker). Multivariate analysis indicated that cirrhosis with Child-Pugh C (odds ratio (OR) = 3.28; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.29-8.37), thrombocytopenia (OR = 3.92, 95% CI, 1.77-8.68), AFP >400 mg/L (OR = 2.21, 95% CI, 1.05-4.66) and male gender (OR = 4.06, 95% CI, 1.29-12.77) were independent factors associated with habitual BQ chewing. In conclusion, adverse hepatic fibrosis and severe liver damage play important roles in the pathogenesis of BQ-related HCC, which could be aggravated by chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C. BQ-cessation programs and prevention of chronic HBV/HCV infection are needed to prevent HCC related to BQ chewing.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.265-270
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• 2015

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is amongst the top three cancer causes of death worldwide with hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV/HCV) as the main etiological agents. An up-to-date descriptive epidemiology of the burden of HBV/HCV-associated HCC in the Arab world is lacking. We therefore determined the burden of HBV/HCV-associated HCC deaths in the Arab world using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2010 dataset. GBD 2010 provides, for the first time, deaths specifically attributable to viral-associated HCC. We analyzed the data for the 22 Arab countries by age, sex and economic status from 1990 to 2010 and compared the findings to global trends. Our analysis revealed that in 2010, an estimated 752,101 deaths occurred from HCC worldwide. Of these 537,093 (71%) were from HBV/HCV-associated HCC. In the Arab world, 17,638 deaths occurred from HCC of which 13,558 (77%) were HBV/HCV-linked. From 1990 to 2010, the burden of HBV and HCV-associated HCC deaths in the Arab world increased by 137% and 216% respectively, compared to global increases of 62% and 73%. Age-standardized death rates also increased in most of the Arab countries, with the highest rates noted in Mauritania and Egypt. Male gender and low economic status correlated with higher rates. These findings indicate that the burden of HBV/HCV-associated HCC in the Arab world is rising at a much faster rate than rest of the world and urgent public health measures are necessary to abate this trend and diminish the impact on already stretched regional healthcare systems.